Justin Bieber's monkey to become German property

FILE - In this April 2, 2013 file picture, Capuchin monkey "Mally" sits on the head of an employee in an animal shelter in Munich, Germany. Justin Bieber's pet monkey is set to become the property of Germany. Mally the Monkey was seized by German customs March 28 when Bieber failed to produce required vaccination and import papers for the animal after landing in Munich. He said the customs authority will formally transfer ownership of the animal to the German state on Tuesday May 21, 2013. (AP Photo/Matthias Schrader, File)

AP

Published: Tuesday, May 21, 2013 at 7:28 a.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, May 21, 2013 at 7:28 a.m.

BERLIN (AP) — Justin Bieber's pet monkey is set to become the property of Germany.

Mally the Monkey was seized by German customs March 28 when Bieber failed to produce required vaccination and import papers for the animal after landing in Munich. He had until midnight Friday to produce those documents.

Customs spokesman Thomas Meister said after offices opened following a holiday weekend that officials received no documents. He said the customs authority will formally transfer ownership of the animal to the German state on Tuesday.

Bieber will then have six weeks to contest the decision. It wasn't immediately clear when authorities will make a decision on the monkey's permanent home.

Mally, a capuchin monkey, has been cared for at Munich's animal shelter since being taken into quarantine.

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